Ladder



Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,915 I G. K. HOFFMAN LADDER Filed March 1'4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I v K a f 1 6' Z I 4 10 I J1 I 8 /16 Ill ll? I I 111111: f] 2'] George K. Hoffman INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1927.

G. K. HOFFMAN LADDER F'ild March 14, B25

2 Sheets -snez 2 so u? 51$; GL 6 George K Hoffman INVENTOR AT ORNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES FATE GEORGE K. HOFFMAN, OF NEFFS, :PENNSYLVANIA.

LADDER.

Application filed March 14, 1925. Serial No. 15,598.

This invention relates to ladders, and more particularly to emergency ladders or fire escapes, and an object of the invention is to pro ide a ladder having stiles of rope or analogous flexible material which will enable the ladder to be collapsed into a relatively small space for storing in a room or dwelling, so that it may be convenient when needed in case of lire or other en'iergency.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a ladder or lire escape as specified, which is relatively simple in construction. and inexpensive in manufacture, so that it may be purchased for use by relatively poor 15 people who are unable to otherwise utilize the usual type of metal lire escape and also a tire escape adaptable for use on buildings which are not adapted for carrying the approved types of metal lire escapes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ladder or lire escape as specified, which carries a protecting screen for protecting persons going up or down the ladder from fire, gases, or the like, which might come out of the building on which the ladder is being used.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved ladder.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the ladder.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of ladder.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional. view on line 4t-a of Figure 2'.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the mothfied form of ladder shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view of the ladder shown in Figures and 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of certain parts 31, lO, 41 and 42 in the modified form the ladder in Figures 3, 5 and 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the improved emergency ladder or tire escape comprises a pair of window sill en gaging hooks 1 which are connected by across brace bar 2 to maintain them in proper lateral spaced relation. The hooks 1 have their ends remote from the sill engaging hooks thereof bent to form eyelets 3 through which the upper ends of the flexible stiles l of the ladder are inserted. The stiles l are preferably formed of rope but they may be made of any suitable flexible material and are knotted as shown at 5, and the ends through the stiles for preventing movement of the rungs along the stiles. The stiles 4; have a pair of S-shaped bars 12- attached thereto. the lower outer ends of which are in turn attached to fiat bars 13, as shown at 14.

The flat bars 13 are provided with openings which receive the stiles l therethrough and they rest upon a pair of the rung carrying sockets 7, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. In Figure 2 the ends 15 of the bars 13 are designed to engage with the wall in any suitable manner (not shown) as would prevent lateral swaying of the ladder structure.

A. rod 16 is attached to the flatbars 13 and extends from one to the other, and it has its ends flattened for attachment to the flat bars 18. A double wire screen 17 is attached to the rod 16 and forms a curtain between the ladder and the building, as indicated at A on which the ladder is opened for protecting persons going up or down the ladder from heat, tire, gases, or the like.

Certain of the rung carrying sockets 7 have socket projections 18 formed thereon which are provided with upwardly opening recesses. Brace bars or rods 19 are pivotally connected, as shown at 20, to the socket members 18, and they have shoes or heads 20 on their upper ends for engagement against the building A to facilitate the proper spacing and holding of the ladder. The rods 19 may be folded upwardly in parallel relation with the stiles a when the ladder is not in-use, and the screen 17 may be either rolled upon the rod 16 or folded with the folding of the ladder, such folding of the ladder being permitted by the flexibility of the stiles 4 thereof.

In Figures 3, 5, 6, and 7, a modified form of the invention is shown, in which the rungs 30 are provided 'with squared ends 31, through which openings 32 extend. The

flexible stiles 33 of the modified formof the ladder pass through the openings 32 and screws or analogous'devices 84 are passed through the ends of the rungs and through the stiles for holding the rungs and stiles against relative movement. The ends of the rungs are reinforced outwardly of the openings 32 by bolts 35. The modified form of ladder has the bracket structure 36 carried thereby which is similar to the bracket structure formed by the members 12 and bars 13, and the cross rod 37 has a screen 38 attached thereto which is similar to and serves the same function as the screen 17.

Beds 4-1 are pivotally connected for upward movement only to the brackets 40 and they have heads or shoes 42 on their outer ends which are adapted to engage against the side of a building or wall to cooperate with the bracket structure 36 for preventing displacement of the ladder while in use. The rungs 10 and 30 are preferably made of wood, but they may be made of any suitable material.

It is, of course, to be understood, that the invention may be constructed in various other manners and the parts associated in different relations, and therefore, I do not desire to be limited in any manner, except as set forth in the claim hereunto appended.

What I claim is:

g In an attachment for an emergency ladder having rungs provided with end socket members through which the sides of the ladder pass, bars having the sides of the ladder passing through their outer ends, said outer ends resting on the socket members and the inner ends of the bars adapted to rest'against the wall of a building, braces connected to the inner portions of the bars and extending outwardly and upwardly and connected to the sidesof the ladder, a rod connecting said bars, and a screen hanging (We and supported by the rod for protecting persons from fire,'gases and the like.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE K. HOFFMAN. 

